What People Are Saying

"ELIC Engage changed my entire thinking of what overseas work looks like! There are so many things I could have done with my summer during college and I am so glad that I chose to spend it abroad with ELIC.

I spent my time in the Middle East where I personally grew in my faith, got a clearer understanding of my calling in life, and how to work well with others in a cross-cultural setting. I loved the focus on team and professionalism that ELIC has and believe it was the reason why I thrived that summer.

For those considering spending a summer abroad - Do it! You won't regret the experience and will come back changed with a new heart and vision for the nations."

"Project 5.6 allowed me to see how different our programs and teams look all over the world. In each country we teach, learn about culture and build relationships but that can look vastly different depending on the needs of the people and country. The first country my team went to was Lebanon, we didn’t really know what to expect.

My first week in Lebanon a Syrian family from the school invited us to join them for coffee. That evening I learned that Syrian coffee is not for the faint hearted, we shared stories and they taught us how to say sugar and thank you in Arabic. The next week the same family welcomed us into their home again. This time it was for a meal. There was homemade falafel and hummus, fresh mint leaves, roasted chicken, fresh fruit and more food than we could ever eat. We talked with a mix of English, Arabic, laughter and hand motions. We asked each other questions and shared pictures of our homes and families.

They showed us pictures of the life they had left, their house and garden full of beautiful flowers. There were pictures of extended family members who they were now separated from. They spoke with sadness about everything they had left behind when they had to flee, including finishing their children’s education and hope of a future in their home country. Through all the recounting of memories though there was also a theme of hope and gratitude. Thankful that they were all safe and that they had the hope of a new future. Sitting in their courtyard at dusk, laughing and eating together we were all far from home but together it didn’t feel quite as far anymore."

"Serving together as a family brings another dimension to campus life. As the first family on our campus in more than a decade, we were amazed at the different opportunities we had to serve our campus together. Our connections with people grew as we served alongside our teammates. In the past, teachers mostly interacted with only students, we saw this change as more faculty and families in the surrounding community began to build relationships with us. Our children were nervous at first, but learned to love the country where we served and our team. They were a significant part of our work overseas and they were valued by everyone that we served alongside. It brought our family closer to each other, and our entire family was significantly shaped by the opportunity that we had to live overseas."

Where Should I Serve

Click on the red countries below to learn more about them.

ELIC considers it a privilege to have worked within the education sector in China throughout the last few decades as the country has experienced tremendous economic growth and reform. Teachers in China enjoy living on university campuses where they spend their daily lives with students, colleagues, and neighbors. We work hand-in-hand with key partners within China to ensure that our teachers and teams thrive.

China is known as being the longest, continuous civilization on earth. ELIC considers it a privilege to work alongside our Chinese brothers and sisters throughout the last few decades as the country has experienced tremendous economic growth and reform. Our teachers enjoy living on university campuses where they spend their daily lives with students, colleagues, and neighbors. Working alongside the government and school partners has allowed our organization to thrive and find our place of influence in this society.

Mongolia is an Asian country that borders Russia and China and is home to just over 3 million people. It is often referred to as the “Land of Eternally Blue Sky” because it has, on average, 250 sunny days each year. Each year, our teams have the privilege of working in both the city and in more rural areas of Mongolia working alongside Mongolian colleagues and educating the future leaders.

At the invitation of the government and universities, ELIC teachers continue to enjoy positions of influence in their classes, campuses, and neighborhoods. We find that our students in Vietnam are eager to learn English and excited to be your friend and introduce you to their culture and country.

Laos is a tropical country located in Southeast Asia. It borders Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. Although Laos has a small population of about 6.8 million people, it has approximately 160 people groups. Our teachers in Laos constantly rave about the warmth and hospitality that the Lao locals are known for.

University students in the capital city of Phnom Penh are eager and excited to meet you. Our team of teachers are looking forward to helping you connect with the community and put you in a position to thrive as you teach and influence young leaders. The laid back culture of Cambodia is a perfect fit for those looking to connect with students over coffee and enjoy meaningful conversations with new and curious friends.

A safe haven for so many in a region of unrest, Jordan has a timeless reputation of welcoming visitors. From the first ‘ahlan wa sahlan’ said in greeting, the people of Jordan delight travelers with their fascinating homeland. Blessed with a disproportionate number of natural and man-made wonders, Jordan inspires the imagination and fascinates travelers in search of origins of faith.

Though teaching children doesn’t fit the typical model that we have followed for more than three decades, when we saw the devastation that the war in Syria was creating, we knew we had to use our expertise to help. Many of our students have never been in a classroom because they have only known war for their entire lives. Our teachers are uniquely positioned to show deep and lasting love to their students by empowering them for a bright future.

Literally and symbolically, Turkey is the country where “East meets West” because it is divided between Europe and Asia by a bridge that runs through Istanbul. Our teachers in Turkey experience a rewarding lifestyle where they build bridges of friendship with their students and colleagues on university campuses.

Stand on the highest peak in Tunisia, the smallest country in North Africa, and you can view the panoramic beauty of the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the vast expanses of the Sahara Desert to the south (and as the crow flies, Italy is close by, just across the sea).

Perched on the northwest corner of North Africa, a 30-minute ferry ride from Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar, Morocco was called by the late King Hassan II “a tree whose roots lie in Africa but whose leaves breathe in Europe.”

Known in the ancient world as Mesopotamia, present day Iraq in the Middle East was considered one of the cradles of human civilization and a world center of its time. Bordered by the countries of Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iran, Iraq has 36 miles of coastline on the Persian Gulf.

Perched on a hill at the edge of the Judean desert just five miles south of Jerusalem, Bethlehem is on of the oldest towns in Palestine and holds extensive historical and cultural significance. Since 1995, Bethlehem has been under the control of the Palestinian National Authority, which has initiated a program of economic recovery and tourism.